CHESTER City have been plunged into crisis once again after the FA refused to grant them a licence – forcing the last-minute cancellation of tomorrow’s friendly at Marine.

The Blues will not be allowed to play any matches until the problem is resolved – but owner Stephen Vaughan is confident the matter will be settled before the start of the new season next month.

Chester went into administration in May and were then bought back by former chairman Vaughan under the guise of a new company called Chester City Football Club 2004 Limited. It is understood the FA has concerns over the set-up of Vaughan’s new company.

The Chester owner said: “As far as we’re concerned, we’ve complied with every rule that’s been thrown at us. We feel that the FA are being very unfair on it.”

The crisis means there is a major doubt over whether next Tuesday’s friendly with a Liverpool XI at the Deva Stadium will go ahead. In the worst-case scenario, the whole future of the club would be in jeopardy if the matter is not resolved by the start of the Blue Square Premier season on August 8.

Mark Hooper, communications manager at the FA, explained: “When clubs go into administration and transfer to a new owner, there are certain regulations every club has to meet to safeguard the financial integrity of the game.

“These regulations are outlined to the club and, to date, they (Chester City) haven’t met our rules.

“Some of the information we need has been supplied but not all of it. It is not us that’s the issue.”